Ms Bríd O'Brien:

As for existing supports, the work placement experience programme came into being at the height of Covid, when everyone thought unemployment would remain high. Covid was a very good example of giving people a proper payment when they were unemployed whereby if employment opportunities reopened, people would go back to work. There were 10,000 places, which, being realistic at this stage, will not be filled. In many ways that is welcome because, we hope, it means people are getting employment. Under the most recent figures, we were heading towards 1,000 places on it, so it is improving.

It could be helpful to open the door for people for whom the door is otherwise firmly closed. It is again about trying to make that connection between employers who are willing to give an opportunity and the person then availing of that opportunity and establishing themselves, which we would hope would lead on to a job.